"Hup!"
Balud's forearm swelled up. From the tattooed biceps and triceps to the forearm muscles, the muscles were breathing alive. The blood vessels protruding over the muscles looked like earthworms.
'A body much more refined than before.'
Ossian imdiately grasped what state Balud's body was in. There might not seem to be much difference on the outside, but the power dwelling in the muscles itself was different. It was a physique that contrasted with the gentle image of slicked-back hair styled with pomade and rimless glasses.
'The physical abilities of a barbarian warrior, said to match knights who are the strongest in close combat.'
Naturally, the power that physique generated was truly transcendent. The hand axe thrown with that transcendent power was beyond question.
-Whoong!
The hand axe cut through the air once again. A sonic boom occurred, and a shockwave burst in mid-air. The axe struck one escort ship. The escort ship imdiately raised its defense system to maximum.
'If it had been an ordinary axe, its durability would have been exhausted and it would have broken. But that one is a weapon imbued with rune carving. It boasts stronger durability and power than most specially crafted weapons.'
The escort ship's barrier broke easily. The escort ship with the hand axe embedded in it began to be covered in frost again. Heat sources generated from inside the escort ship, and flas burst out through window gaps. The frost that had been spreading like a plague hesitated.
'Indeed, these are trained soldiers. They spread the firepower they had inside to block the expansion of the cold air.'
They must have thought of a counterasure after seeing what happened to their comrade. Though they weren't given much ti, their reaction was better than expected. The baptism of fire was a dangerous operation that could erase an entire area. The level of the crew mbers carrying it out must also be very high.
'But stopping the cold air that has already penetrated is all they can do.'
The mont it was hit by Balud's runic axe, that warship beca unable to carry out operations. It only avoided being shot down, but all functions had stopped.
Perhaps knowing this, Balud didn't even glance at the half-frozen ship and threw his axe toward the next target.
'If it had been an ordinary barbarian warrior, they would have thrown axes randomly until that airship crashed.'
No. In fact, saying they would throw axes was being generous. Usually barbarian warriors would have jumped around trying to reach that airship directly with their own two legs. It might seem like discriminatory thinking, but it was also true that barbarian warriors were that simple. It wasn't without reason that people discriminated against Nords as if they were a different species.
That's why Balud was different. He had made efforts to break free from the world's prejudices. Those efforts eventually bore fruit. A warrior was born who didn't get swept away by instinct and emotion, but made rational judgnts and fought battles.
In other words, he was a smart barbarian warrior. Though the words "smart" and "barbarian" contradicted each other, there was no other way to express it.
Naturally, the escort ships weren't just taking hits passively either. Gun barrels turned toward Balud. The sa went for Osian beside him.
Thus gun barrels spat fire and enormous firepower poured down, but.
'That's my specialty.’
Kiiiiing! The sun 'ring rotated. Trendous rotational force expelled heat and surrounded the area with invisible, intangible waves. The sun ring barrier unfolded. High explosives exploded right in mid-air.
Ranged attacks were aningless against a knight wearing sun ring armor. The temperature around them rose again as heat from the sun ring made the ambient temperature hot. Balud shook the axe in his hand once greatly, scattering cold air around.
Hissss.
The heated sun ring armor cooled rapidly.
"Refreshing."
Osian deliberately made a comnt. It wasn't wrong, as it felt like being in a hot bath and then entering a cold one.
Balud shot Osian a sharp look. But without saying anything else, he took a throwing stance again.
The escort ships, feeling threatened by Balud's axe, increased their distance. The escort ships equipped with current science were backing away in fear of a single individual. It was a situation that couldn't even be used for stand-up cody.
'But it is effective. Balud's range has limits. Though his throws are strong and fly far, thrown objects inevitably lose power the farther they travel.'
And the escort ships' role wasn't to eliminate Balud. Their true purpose was to suppress the ground once for the baptism of fire. That process itself should already be considered finished. Though there was unexpected counterattack and fierce resistance, it hadn't failed.
Osian crouched down and then jumped high. The knight who leaped up wearing the sun ring shone like the sun in mid-air. That light could be seen by all the people evacuating from District 44.
'I won't just let them retreat. I need to reduce their forces as much as possible.'
Pshhing! One sun ring straight sword flew toward an escort ship. Even with high-output mobility, they weren't capable of evading attacks of this level. What the escort ships chose wasn't to scatter but rather to cluster together.
Kwaaaaang!
The escort ships in formation combined their power. The magic barrier they deployed collided with the sun ring straight sword. The escort ships that should have been engulfed in flas were fine. Only the lead escort ship was slightly scorched.
'Tch. So this is what military airships are like. Not only is their individual output high, but they can support each other like that and share output too.'
This wasn't good. The mont they clustered together, there was no way for this side to respond.
'I don't know who the commander is, but they'll get promoted well.'
The ships began clustering and forming formations. Osian felt gravity and landed back on the ground.
The firepower that had been scattered throughout District 44 concentrated in one place, so the widespread commotion decreased. At least they succeeded in reducing the imdiate casualties.
"Is it okay?"
Light and presence were felt from behind. It was Lukai who had arrived with help from the mutant Clara. Lukai looked at Balud and Balud looked at Lukai. The two exchanged light nods without saying much.
Now even ti for introductions was precious.
"It seems they've changed their approach."
From beyond, whitish mist fluttered like butterfly wings and landed in front. What revealed itself by absorbing the mist was Mist.
A whirlwind made of black fur also flew over with a slight ti delay. It was Diolan who had removed his boots and transford into a cat, and Edgar who had been inside the fur like in a sleeping bag.
"Huff. Huff."
With panting sounds from afar, Loraine ca running with firearms slung on her back. Having fought a major battle, her appearance was a complete ss. She was covered in explosive soot everywhere, and her clothes had bullet holes. But there were no major injuries, and nothing was chasing behind her.
After catching her breath, Loraine looked around at the people gathered.
"Are all the people who were supposed to gather here?"
Whoong!
As soon as Loraine finished speaking, a golden pillar of light shot up from one side. Everyone's gaze turned there. The pillar of light flickered like flas and rotated like a whirlwind.
The rotating whirlwind cut through the atmosphere and flew toward them.
Thoom!
The ground shook greatly. Spider web-like cracks spread across the frozen earth. Martinez, who had landed noisily, slowly raised his body.
Golden fla-flickering eyes surveyed the gathering.
"Am I the latest?"
"You're uncharacteristically late."
"My work colleagues interfered with . But I persuaded both of them well and sent them back. There won't be any more interference."
Though he spoke lightly, it ant he had won in a fight against two of the 13 Holy Orders. The two had also realized Martinez's power was stronger than theirs and retreated obediently. They realized there was nothing to gain from fighting further.
Everyone's gaze naturally turned toward the airships in formation.
"Even though we said we'd reduce them as much as possible, over 10 ships still remain. This won't save face."
Loraine looked at Osian as if dumbfounded after hearing his muttering.
"You know we just fought our own military, right?"
What the people gathered here had shown so far could be called sothing worthy of going down in history but Osian shrugged. So what? The real baptism of fire hadn't even begun yet.
The ships that had completely ford formations began to move. Like a pod of orcas moving together, their movent was slow but steady and precise.
If they poured down bombardnt again like this, this side would have difficulty responding. Though the range had decreased, the density of firepower would be incomparable. But the escort ships didn't breathe fire. Rather, they split left and right as if opening a path for sothing.
"In the end, is it coming?"
Lukai muttered. The escort ships no longer attacked because they had fulfilled their role. Now their role was to be supporting actors for the upcoming operation.
The main character was approaching with such brilliant splendor that it was clearly visible even in the darkness.
A total of 3 super-large airships. Loraine muttered in a hollow voice.
"...Aerial battleship Ultima."
Enormous battleships that made the firepower of the previous escort ships look like nothing cut through the atmosphere.
Passing by the escort ships that made way, the size difference was so remarkable that comparing adults and children seed laughable.
Would this be how it felt to beco an anchovy and see a whale swimming on the water's surface? It was to the extent of receiving the illusion that one's existence beca infinitely small.
"Finally, the real beginning."
The main culprit that had erased the district that had once almost been the most prosperous. Over the long years, the battleships would have been further upgraded with the power of science and magic. Now that those had appeared, there was no escape. The firepower they would unleash would destroy the surroundings at a speed that far exceeded this side's ability to flee.
"I won't question why everyone followed to such a dangerous place after coming this far. However, I'd like one thing to be certain."
Osian said, looking around at everyone.
"Survive. Understand?"
Everyone nodded with grave faces. Just as Osian was taking his stance, communication ca through the radio he was carrying. It was what Pline had given him.
"It's ."
[Am I contacting you while you're busy?]
"Your timing is absolutely perfect. It was just when I was about to get busy. So, the reason for contact?"
[I've found their weakness. If I just report this to the higher-ups, I can stop the baptism of fire.]
"But that's not imdiately possible. The ti?"
[15 minutes. No, 10 minutes. That's the minimum. I'm planning to do my absolute best too.]
To hold out for 10 minutes against those 3 super-large ships that made one's mind reel just by looking at them?
"Well, having a firm goal is better than fighting recklessly."
Noise ca through the radio. Pline’s breathing becoming rough was clearly transmitted.
"It seems you're also caught up in troubleso business."
[It's sothing I'll have difficulty surviving too. It seems they're planning to execute this operation by eliminating sohow.]
"So we're both busy."
[However, I'll handle my business myself. I can't ask for help. So, please hold out.]
Pline pleaded earnestly. Though she knew it didn't make sense, she had no choice but to ask like that.
"I will."
Osian answered calmly that he understood. Those words without interrogation or reproach lightened Pline’s burden considerably.
Thus the communication ended. Pline looked down at the radio in her hand and put it in her pocket.
"Don't underestimate my determination that got up to high-ranking civil servant."
Though she said that, being her age, she was out of breath from running just a little. She might have exercised regularly, but aging was unavoidable.
Though her appearance looked more than 20 years younger than her actual age, that didn't make strength that didn't exist appear.
-We can no longer help you.
Gaien's words before parting ca to mind.
-Most of our personnel have already been deployed to evacuate District 44's citizens. And my guards here cannot protect you.
The Slithering Sisters used the power of the Outer God Cthulatlap. Since this was an incident caused by an Outer God, the Slithering Sisters' power must not be revealed to the world any further. The mont she received the sisters' help, Pline would be caught up in an even bigger problem.
-This is solely your role.
"I know. I know that too."
Pline muttered as if complaining. She caught her breath while surveying the surroundings. She could feel pursuers approaching her in the darkness.
Even though Gaien had cleaned up once, it was still this much. Probably other civil servants who had always found this side disagreeable had also exerted influence.
She had tried not to make enemies as much as possible in life, but how could that be easy? This was probably why one couldn't let their guard down in Tirna.
"Here!"
Soone blocked the front of the alley. Judging by their nacing eyes, they had definitely not approached with good intentions. From the beginning, everyone she encountered in this place was a definite danger.
Pline imdiately turned around, but pursuers had already followed there too. The pursuers exchanged glances with each other, then aid the pistols in their hands at Pline.
Pline was about to close her eyes tightly but stopped. Instead, with an intensely fierce gaze, she stared at the gun barrels. The opponents flinched at that gaze, but soon showed bitter smiles.
In the slowly flowing ti, triggers were pulled and.
Thunk thunk!
Red daggers were embedded in the pursuers' foreheads. Soon a black shadow dropped down and embraced the waist of Pline, whose legs had given out.
Pline looked at the black mask before her eyes and smiled with difficulty.
"I really was waiting for you."
Basilio curved his red eyes like a crescent moon from within the mask.
"I wasn't late this ti, was I?"
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